Flag hoisting by BJP in Lal Chowk a political gimmickry:JK Min

Srinagar, Jan 24 (PTI) BJP''s plans of hoisting thenational flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day is a "politicalgimmick" and any attempt to provoke people will not beallowed, a minister in Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammuand Kashmir said today.

"They (BJP) have been doing this political gimmickry�probably they want to draw political mileage out of it,"Minister for Medical Education R S Chib told reporters on thesidelines of a function here.

Chib, who is a senior Congress leader, said it was notthe first time that the opposition party at the Centre hadindulged in political gimmickry, apparently referring to 1992Republic day when BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and NarenderModi were airlfited to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.

He said government will not allow the BJP to hoist theflag, as it will provoke people "unnecessarily".

"Definitely, we are not going to allow things, by whichthe people get provoked unnecessarily and it has no meaning atall," he said.

Chib said there was no need for the BJP to come hereas the tricolour will be hoisted in the state and Republic dayparade will be held across the state.